InformationWeek

HP Adds Network Switches

High-speed products aim to help companies move up to 100 Mbps

By Hakhi Alakhun El
Issue date: March 25, 1996

Hewlett-Packard is beefing up its line of networking switches with two high-speed products that are aimed directly at the workgroup, and are designed to help companies move from 10 Mbps speeds to 100 Mbps.

The first offering, the HP AdvanceStack Switch 200, features 16 switched ports that handle 10 Mbps and two 100VG ports that operate at 100 Mbps. The other model, the Advance Stack Switch 2000, will let users integrate 10-Mbps ports with a variety of high-speed technologies, including 100VG, 100Base-T, FDDI, and ATM. Both will be available on May 1.

The AdvanceStack Switch 2000 will be the first switching hub to offer this kind of flexibility to workgroups, according to Diane Myers, an analyst at In-Stat, a research firm in Scottsdale, Ariz. "When I speak with network managers, they are looking for scalability, ease of use, and technical support aside from the cost," she says. "With these products, HP is providing for these needs."

Users are eager to get their hands on the switches. "We want to have our networks improved with very little cost directed toward changing from low-end to high-end," says Alley Houda, a technician at the University of California in San Diego. "We're already using 26 HP hubs. With AdvanceStack 2000, we'll be able to monitor all 26 hubs from a central site."

AdvanceStack 2000 can be used w ith HP's OpenView network management software to oversee complex networks, says Magde Assem, product line manager for HP. "The 2000 can work as the top of multiple hubs, allowing for a dedicated connection for each hub," he explains. "By using the OpenView Interconnect Manager software, users can see the entire network for better central management."

HP's switches are competitively priced with products from rivals such as Bay Networks, 3Com, and Cisco Systems. Prices for the AdvanceStack Switch 2000 will start at $6,995; the AdvanceStack Switch 200 will start at $3,995.

HP is battling for a larger share of a fast-growing market. More than $1.2 billion in switches were sold in 1995, according to In-Stat, and that figure should grow to $3 billion in 1996. In-Stat's Myers says the new switches put HP in a strong competitive position. She notes: "This is a good addition to their line of products, and they now have an opportunity be a become a key competitor in the market ."

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